In the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, M23 rebels say they’ve seized Goma, the capital of North Kivu province. U.N. chief António Guterres called on Rwandan forces to immediately withdraw from the DRC and end its support for M23 fighters, while the Congolese government called Goma’s capture a “declaration of war” by Rwanda. Fighting across the Congo-Rwanda border has also been reported. Some 400,000 people have been forced to flee their homes in eastern Congo since the start of the year as M23 fighters advanced toward Goma, compounding an already disastrous humanitarian situation. Over the weekend, the U.N. moved to evacuate its staff in the area after 13 U.N. peacekeeper soldiers were killed fighting the M23.

Following an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council Sunday, Congolese Foreign Minister Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner called the unfolding situation in her country one of “its darkest periods in recent history” and called for the Security Council to sanction Rwanda and impose an embargo on the exploitation of natural resources.

Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner: “Since January 6, 2025, these illegal forces have intensified their attacks, taking over strategic localities such as Katale, Masisi, displacing millions of civilians and destroying vital infrastructure and committing massive human rights violations. These acts are not only attacks against the people of the Congo, but also against the fundamental principles that govern peaceful coexistence between nations.”